Thursday, March 14, 2013

I can't believe it's over! Last night's episode of Kimora: House of Fab marked the end of the grand diva, Kimora Lee Simmons's, return to television in a new series. It's been an interesting season and what better way to end than with a Just FabulousNew York Fashion Week debut!? Kimora designed the shoes for the Charlotte Ronson show and she rounded up the team and headed east to give them a real taste of the fashion world. Meanwhile, Adam and Don were back in L.A. looking for a home for JustFab's new flagship store! The announcement of which coincided with JustFab's 3 year anniversary. All they do is win!

I've had mixed emotions all season. I think the show is a great concept. Fantastic. But, it's obvious that the team was still (at least at taping) getting used to whole reality tv..."thing". I get that and I'm willing to give a few concessions for some of the awkwardness because of this. However, Kimora is not new to that world. This is why, during the next season, I expect to see a little more respect afforded her by the rest of the team. I hope that having seen themselves on the air now, looking uncertain and unsure...awkward, as she moves like a ripple of water on a pond pushed by a gentle breeze, they will realize that they, in fact, don't know what the hell they're doing and that's why she's President and Creative Director.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

I just finished watching this week's Kimora: House of Fab and I'm feeling very introspective. My mind is all over the place. Allow me to share. In this episode, the JustFab team was busy preparing for the launch of rocker Avril Lavingne's Abbey Dawn line of shoes with the company and planning and shooting the first commercial featuring Kimora as President and Creative Director of Just Fabulous. Just when I thought the team was growing on me, they got on my nerves again. I recognize that much of any reality series is scripted and planned...in some way...but, I also have a sense of when the real ish starts going down. Of course, I have no way of knowing for sure, but let's call it a good use of deductive reasoning.

Let me start by saying I think Just Fabulous and Kimora Lee Simmons fit together like hand and glove. It just makes sense. It's quite obvious that she's had a tremendous impact, already, on taking things to the next level for the brand, with fresh ideas and an insistence that the company continues to evolve and expand. That's what she does. That's who she is. She's done it before. This isn't her first time at the rodeo. So, this is why I get a little bothered by watching anybody at Just Fabulous give her some push back when she offers her perspective on which direction she thinks things should go. I don't mean to say that nothing she says should ever be questioned. I absolutely don't mean that and I don't think that's what she expects from them.

But, telling a 37 year old mother of three, who has kicked down more doors than most of them will ever even have the privilege of walking up to, in an industry rife with sexism and racism, that the women who follow her won't appreciate seeing her "behind a desk" is absolutely ridiculous! REE-DICK-YOU-LUS! In fact, I think most of the women who follow and support her would have preferred to see her in a more professional light. We've seen Kimora evolve over the years. We've seen her scantily clad (after all, we were wearing similar ensembles at the time Ha!), we've seen her regal and elegant and we've seen her moving through these fashion streets as the business mogul that she is.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

On last night's Kimora: House of Fab, the crew was hard at work creating a new dress line for JustFab and getting some goodies together for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I love the duality in the show. The team is usually engaged in at least two projects during each episode and it's a great look at just how much work it takes to make it all happen. At one point, when they were discussing the new dress line, Lesley said she suspected that they'd have a lot of 24 hour work days ahead. I'm sure most people thought she was joking. I bet she wasn't.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Last night's episode of Kimora: House of Fab was hilarious and perfect timing what with today being Valentine's Day. I suspect that as meticulous as Kimora is, that is no coincidence. Hey, look, she even has a heart on her tee!

The team was hard at work on a shoot for a new commercial and in the process Kimora played matchmaker for Lesley, JustFab's Director of Merchandise. Lesley didn't seem too excited and I'm guessing that it didn't work out, but such is life and Kimora offers some great, sound advice for navigating the dating world on Style Network's website. As I watched the episode, I reflected upon how delicate a dance it is to work a very demanding job and maintain an active social life. It's tough, especially when you have great work ethic, but it's necessary. It's so easy to find yourself feeling guilty about taking a vacation because, "There's so much to do" or "They're just going to mess things up while I'm away" and the list goes on and on. But, guess what? If you keel over and die at that job, they'll call 911 to come and scoop your carcass up, mop up the floor, spray a little Lysol and find a replacement for you within a month's time. Seriously.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

I'm going to try not to post any spoilers here, but if I do, just take it for love and hush up. Tonight's episode of Kimora: House of Fab was hilarious and insightful, and the cast is really starting to grow on me. The team was working on a new print ad campaign and gathering feedback from women for Just Fab's denim line. Let's be clear here. If anybody knows women's denim, it's Kimora Lee Simmons and it is so damn funny to watch her give them directives about what she'd like to see and what she doesn't like. The constant refraintonight was, "Without it being a high, granny, mom jean." Can it be any more clear (or funny) than that? I didn't think so either.

The work on the print campaign was rife with the same old office bullsh*t and I had some great chuckles as I watched. Alyson, JustFab's Art Director, wanted to try something out of the box by using a nude model to sell the shoes, while Sandra, JustFab's Senior Vice President of Marketing, was very hesitant, preferring to go with a clothed model. I was all for giving it a shot, but I totally understand Sandra's hesitation. You have to CYA (cover your ass) out in these streets or run the risk of somebody KYA (kicking your ass) for screwing up. Anyway, the two go back and forth about which idea makes the most sense until Adam and Don, Just Fab's Co-CEOs, weigh in at the very end. Comedy gold!

Thursday, January 31, 2013

On last night’s episode of Kimora: House of Fab, Kimora and the crew showed just how much work goes into making it all happen. Kimora was preparing for an OK! Magazine shoot and the staff was tasked with making a video with the expectation that they’d be able to make it go viral on the internet. They were split up into teams then sent on their way to see what they could make happen. Hilarity ensued.

Johnny is, by far, the stand-out character on the show -- besides Kimora, of course. He’s funny, bold and colorful, a recipe for reality television success. I love the way the show gives viewers a look at how much thought goes into every single aspect of the business. I think it’s important for the public to see that, because it doesn’t all just magically come together. I think it’s also important to realize that we are most likely only seeing even a small portion of what it really takes! This is business, and businesses are in business to make money. So, they can’t just throw caution to the wind and let the chips fall where they may. Everything from color schemes to material to lighting, angles…all of it…matters.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

I never doubted that she could do it again, but I had no idea she'd do it like this. Wednesday night, Kimora Lee Simmons threw down the gauntlet for other reality television series with Kimora: House of Fab. Just as she promised, the show gives viewers an inside look at the creative process at online fashion behemoth Just Fabulous where she's President and Creative Director. It is a hit!

Kimora prefers to call the show a docu-drama and I agree. It's less like a traditional reality tv series (no beatdowns, no screaming matches between drunken, far too old to be behaving that way women, no idle chatter about dumb sh*t, etc.) and more like a short-form documentary in series form. I love home designer Jeff Lewis's Flipping Out series and Kimora:House of Fab has that same organic, fresh feel. When I watch Jeff's show, as much as I'm entertained, it's amazingly interesting to see how he puts his genius to work. Kimora: House of Fab handles its content very similarly and I'm hooked!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Tonight's the night! The premiere of Kimora: House of Fab! I only vaguely remember the premiere of Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, but I don't think I'll ever forget this one! The first episode of Life in the Fab Lane is a classic! It was like nothing we'd ever seen before (lol) and I suspect House of Fab will be the same. It airs at 9pm E/P and I'm going to do my best to be in front of the television, but my dvr is set for the full season!

Monday, January 21, 2013

Guess who's back?! On Wednesday, January 23rd, Kimora Lee Simmons will take over the reality tv airwaves as she fashions a new nook for herself in that oftentimes unseemly corner of entertainment television. Kimora: House of Fab promises a look at the inner workings of online fashion powerhouse JustFab.com where Kimora is President and Creative Director. Kimora says this about the new show:

“This is an office environment with more of an ensemble. It is more like The Office or Ugly Betty. It is a team of people at all times, with lots of coming and going. It is less of my kids and my personal side.”

I'm a little perturbed that Kenzo Lee appearances will be scarce. Afterall, we haven't even had a chance to hear his little voice! But, while I truly admire Kimora for her skills as a mother in the face of her demanding workload, it is her business acumen that is a true marvel.